Nagaland University’s Committee for Mission LiFE organised a lecture on solid waste management in hybrid mode at its Lumami campus on October 21, 2026.
The lecture was held at the Conference Hall of the Department of Environmental Science (EVS), with participants also joining online. Prof. Ligy Philip, Institute Chair Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at IIT Madras, was the resource person. Peter Ki, PRO, Nagaland University, introduced the speaker.
In her lecture, Prof. Philip highlighted the importance of effective solid waste management in protecting public health, conserving soil and water resources, and promoting sustainable development.
She noted that waste generation varies significantly between rural and urban areas. Rural communities generate approximately 0.1 to 0.4 kg of waste per capita per day, compared with 0.5 to 1.2 kg in urban areas.
The difference is largely driven by packaged food, commercial activity, rising incomes and changing lifestyles. In rural areas, much biodegradable household waste is reused as livestock feed and does not necessarily reach centralised waste-management facilities.
Prof. Philip warned that improper waste disposal, particularly open dumping, poses serious environmental and public-health risks.
Rainwater passing through unsegregated waste produces leachate, which can carry heavy metals and other pollutants into groundwater and surface water. Plastic waste can also degrade soil structure, reduce water absorption and affect agricultural productivity.
She added that open dumping encourages the breeding of disease vectors such as rats and mosquitoes, releases methane from decomposing organic matter and contributes to air pollution.
Microplastics, defined as plastic particles smaller than five millimetres, pose additional concerns because they can carry toxic pollutants and potentially contaminate soil and groundwater.
Emphasising the need for segregation at source, Prof. Philip said waste should be separated into organic or biodegradable, non-biodegradable and sanitary waste.
Kitchen and garden waste can be converted into compost or processed through biomethanation, while materials such as paper, plastics, metals and glass can be recycled if properly segregated.
Sanitary waste, including diapers, sanitary napkins, bandages, syringes and needles, requires separate handling to prevent contamination and protect sanitation workers.
She outlined the waste-management hierarchy, placing waste reduction and reuse ahead of recycling, composting, waste-to-energy recovery and sanitary landfilling. Carrying cloth bags instead of accepting single-use bags, she noted, helps prevent waste generation at the source.
Prof. Philip stressed that landfilling should be the last resort for residual waste after resource recovery. Unlike open dumping, a sanitary landfill is an engineered facility equipped with protective liners and leachate-collection systems to minimise groundwater contamination.
She identified composting as one of the most practical decentralised solutions for biodegradable waste. Effective aerobic composting requires suitable temperature, moisture and carbon-to-nitrogen ratios to support decomposition, control odour and destroy pathogens.
Maintaining temperatures of around 55 to 60 degrees Celsius for three to five days helps eliminate pathogens, while mature compost can generally be produced within 20 to 60 days, depending on the method used.
Methods such as pit composting, windrow composting, vermicomposting and mechanical or in-vessel composting can be adopted at different scales, from individual households to municipalities.
Prof. Philip highlighted the importance of maintaining an appropriate carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of approximately 30:1 and moisture content of around 40 to 45 per cent for effective decomposition.
The lecture also highlighted the role of community participation in sustainable waste management.
A corporate social responsibility-supported sustainable-villages programme implemented in more than 12 villages was cited as an example of an initiative integrating waste segregation, collection, composting, recycling, wastewater management and community training.
In one village, improved composting practices reportedly produced mature compost within 20 to 25 days, which was sold at ₹25 per kg. Revenue from compost and recyclable materials was said to cover approximately one-third of the programme’s operating costs.
Prof. Philip said such initiatives demonstrated how awareness, community participation and appropriate infrastructure could transform waste into a valuable resource.
The lecture concluded with a question-and-answer session. Dr. Latonglila Jamir, Head of the Department of Environmental Science at Nagaland University, proposed the vote of thanks.
Faculty members, staff, research scholars, postgraduate students and members of the university’s Committee for Mission LiFE attended the programme.
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